Oakes cans ‘ole in one’ at Eastern Star

Friday, 18 January 2013 From Issue Vol. XXI No. 3

Jomtien Golf with the IPGC

Monday, Jan. 7, The Emerald – Stableford

Our first visit here for around three months due to the renovation of the course and the consensus after the round from the majority of players was that they are happy to come back here on our normal regular schedule of three weeks.

There were three men’s divisions out today with the equal cut at 7-14, 15-18 and 19 plus and a ladies division as well.

Billy Fitzgerald shot his best round ever with us to win division 2 with 41 points. Harry Vincenzi came second on 35 and Kari Aarnio beat Barry Stirling on a 17/14 back nine count back to finish third after they both scored 34 points.

In his first game since his return from the UK, Pete Sumner topped division 1 with 35 points ahead of one of the freemason boys, Mike Chatt, in second one point behind and Chris Voller took third with 32 after beating John Chambers 17/16 on the back nine.

Dave Stewart birdied the 7th to claim the only ‘2’ of the day and secured the rollover pot in division 1.

We all got back to the bar tonight and it was closed and with all the rumours abounding here since it went up for sale two months ago, no one knew what was going on so there was no presentation. Eventually however, the shutters opened and to everyone’s surprise Faa and Olaf have returned as owners after selling it six months ago, and with four and a half years previous experience here at Siam Cats everyone was pleased.

There will be a few re-vamps to the bar here over the next couple of months and with the road here in Soi 5 completely resurfaced and finished we have a perfect location now in Jomtien.

Wednesday, Jan. 9, Khao Kheow - Stableford

Upon arrival we were allocated the A and B courses and for many golfers it had been a long time since we last played the A nine; most people dread teeing off on the par five first on the C course so relief for a few today.

This was our largest turnout of the week with 46 players and the cut was almost the same as Monday for three divisions but with four placings in each division today.

Wichai birdied the 3rd on the A course and Sid Crawley the 5th to share the ‘2’s pot in division 1 and in division 2 Don Head has the only birdie to take Monday’s rollover as well.

Friday, Dec. 11, Eastern Star - Stableford

After many complaints to the management the previous week regarding the condition of the 13th and 18th greens, we waited to see what, if any, improvements had been done here.

As always, three divisions out today and the best scores of the day came in from division 3 where Iain Walsh beat Bob Poole on a 21/17 back nine count back after they both returned to the clubhouse with 37 points. With his big birthday bash on Monday here at Siam Cats, Rod Howett was in third place on 33.

Frank Kelly took division 2 honours with 36 points ahead of Darryl Blair in second place, four points behind, and Ian Plummer, with his last round with us, beat the telephone box boy Dennis Scougal 15/14 on the back nine for third after they both came in with 29 points.

Playing off 12, Horst Starchl returned the best score of the day in division 1, winning with 35 points, while Bill Bertram took second two points behind and after 41 points last week Billy Fitzgerald was in third with 32.

In the ‘2’s today Tony Oakes was standing on the third tee, the 175 yard par3, with the pin at the back and hits a four iron into the heart of the green and watch as it then hit the flag and dropped into the hole for our seventh hole in one since our inauguration six years ago. Congratulations Tony!

Today was also Bon Voyage to Anne and Ian Plummer and also to Dave Stewart, we’ll see you in a few months time.

This article was published in the Pattaya Mail newspaper on Friday January 18, 2013 (Vol. XXI No. 3).